Gaznevada Thrill OF The Night

In February 2025, the Swedish hair metal outfit is set to release their highly anticipated album Thrill of the Bite, which promises to elevate their rock music to new heights. Following the success of their previous album Street Lethal (2021), this new record is packed with powerful anthems, memorable riffs and melodies, electrifying guitar solos, and the larger-than-life sing-along energy that fans have come to expect from the band, delivering what is already shaping up to be one of the bands strongest works in their 20+ year career. Thrill of the Bite features tracks that highlight Crazy Lixx’s ability to balance their nostalgic, sleaze-metal roots with their love for the 80s and early 90s, drawing inspiration from the flamboyant heavy metal and movies of that era alike. The band has teased a few tracks, suggesting a turn to a heavier, riff-driven style while maintaining their signature melodic choruses and glam-influenced attitude.

In the Heat of the Night is the second album by British soul/dance group Imagination, produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain and released in 1982. In the Heat of the Night was Imagination's most successful album, reaching No. 7 in the United Kingdom. "Just an Illusion" was the group's highest charting single, peaking at No. 2 (kept off the top spot by the Goombay Dance Band's "Seven Tears"), and also making the top 10 in several other countries in Western Europe and Scandinavia. It was covered by Destiny's Child on their self-titled album and Mariah Carey sampled this song for her hit "Get Your Number" in her 2005 album The Emancipation of Mimi. "Music and Lights" was another UK top 5 hit, and "In the Heat of the Night" and "Changes" also charted.

Blue Feather was a Dutch band, which accomplished international recognition with their hit single 'Let's Funk Tonight', a strong funk track also featured on their first album entitled 'Feather Funk' from 1981 on Mercury Records. The first album was an organic mix of jazz, fusion and funk, unlike the second LP 'Shadows Of The Night' (originally released in 1985) which is leaning more to the synthetic sound which was popular at the time. Both albums are hard to find, especially 'Shadows Of The Night', for which collectors pay top prices. Fortunately that isn't necessary anymore thanks to this wonderful re-issue…

One of the better garage rock recordings of its period, the dozen songs here, cut for Justice Records after the band had placed in the second runner-up spot in a local Battle of the Bands, are full of surprises. For starters, the presence of two rhythm guitarists gives the group a rich, thick-textured sound. The other big surprise is the balance struck between the organist and lead guitarist: Monte Allison and David Marlette make a perfect team of soloists. Allison's organ shifts effortlessly from background to foreground, and Marlette's guitar solos show an engaging, inventive sense of melody. The presence of a handful of very pleasing original numbers only enhances the value of this CD. Excellent sound, too.

Trumpeter Dave Douglas has participated in so many styles of music that listing them all would be mesmerizing. Some of his best work has been performed in free style and hard bop jazz groups. Here, he charts a different path, albeit one that he has pursued successfully before, in a mellow, lovely vein. Douglas is the only horn, backed by Guy Klucevsek's eclectic accordion, Mark Feldman's gloriously sweet violin, and Greg Cohen's acoustic string bass. With some exceptions, the dynamics are generally low, the tempos slow, and the mood serene. There is almost a post-minimalism to it all, capped by the exquisite sound of Douglas' trumpet.